An effective medicinal option that relieves chronic pain and symptoms, increases range of motion, and structurally rebalances misaligned areas of the body. Oil-free, slow traction over the skin and various stretches work with fascia (connective tissue that covers muscles, organs, and bone). Pain usually originates from fascia rather than muscle, making this modality one of the best pain relievers even when other therapies have been unsuccessful. Pressure often starts light and gets deeper. Some describe it as a meditative experience. It is versatile, can be performed over clothes, and may aid non-muscular conditions via structural changes, like acid reflux, arthritis, and more. Country/Culture of Origin: United States*

See a brief explanation here, and an example here. Many therapeutic modalities are derived from myofascial release, and it is an umbrella to many other techniques.

"Medical" and "orthopedic" massage are not techniques themselves. Rather, these are umbrella terms for various techniques used by massage therapists who have in-depth training and specialize in working with...

• Complex health conditions

• Post operative or post injury recovery

• Various bodily symptoms

• Pain syndromes

Massage therapists with these skillsets apply detailed assessments to understand each patient's alignment, structural concerns, signs, symptoms, medical history, and gather the how's and why's of the body's responses that have led to your current situation.

We often use integrated techniques that affect multiple body systems rather than just focusing on muscles (eg. connective tissues, bones, organs, nervous system, lymphatic system, endocrine system, etc.) In most cases, gradual restructuring of the body and the reduction of other unwanted symptoms are achievable.

Some symptoms we commonly work with are:

• dizziness

• numbness and tingling

• poor digestion

• radiating or referred pain

• inflammation

• swelling

• chronic breathing pattern difficulties

• tickling or crawling sensations

• discomfort of areas of the body less commonly addressed in spa services such as sinuses, eyes, face, throat, ribs, abdomen, or diaphragm

• feelings of tightness or heaviness

• and plenty of other bodily symptoms and sensations

***Some of these can also be signs of more serious conditions. If these symptoms are new for you or you're unsure of the cause, see a physician first to rule out a medical emergency.***

Because of our advanced studies in Anatomy and Physiology as well as research literacy, we are accustomed to adapting our techniques to an extremely wide variety of conditions, screening for safety, and tailoring sessions to individual needs.

In chronic conditions, many of our patients will be aiming for functionality, symptom management, remission of flares, or quality of life. In other cases, like some forms of sciatic pain or acute injury, the problem may be completely alleviated through manual therapy.

Some of the many conditions/traits we've worked with are:

• Cardiac conditions (Congestive heart failure, stroke and heart attack recovery)

• Connective tissue disorders (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, hypermobility spectrum disorder)

• Chronic Pain and Fatigue (Fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome)

• Digestive ailments (gastroparesis, constipation, GERD)

• Neurological Disorders (Parkinsons, Multiple Sclerosis)

• Spinal Disease and Surgical Recovery (sciatica, Ankylosing spondylitis, herniated discs, degenerative disc or spinal disease, pinched nerve roots)

• Respiratory Conditions (COPD, breathing pattern disorders, recovery from long COVID or respiratory illness [when no longer contagious])

• Mental Health Conditions (Anxiety, Depression, Dissociation, Addictions)

• Neurodivergence (Autism, ADHD)

• Endocrine Issues (hyper/hypothyroidism, high cortisol)

• Reproductive Ailments (PCOS, endometriosis)

• Postural and alignment issues causing pinched nerves, pain, or structural neurological symptoms

Some of the common surgeries and injuries we assist in treating during recovery via scar tissue release, pain relief, anti-inflammatory protocol, and swelling reduction are:

• Post operative incision areas

• C Sections

• Joint replacements

• Spinal Fusions

• Bone reconstruction and fracture repair with hardware

• Nerve and blood vessel grafts

• Mastectomy and Chest reconstructions

• Lumpectomy

• Visceral (organ) scar adhesions

• Cosmetic procedures

• Soft tissue injuries

• Soft tissue repair procedures (rotator cuff, ACL, meniscus, labrums, other ligaments and tendons, etc)

• Sports injuries

Typically medical massage is safe at the time that exercise or movement of the post surgical area is safe, or around the time you would be cleared to begin physical therapy. Scar tissue release cannot begin until incisions are fully healed, which varies based on each person's body, the procedure or injury, and whether or not complications were encountered in the initial healing. Your physician and massage therapist can collaborate if needed to determine the right time to begin massage. These types of recovery work are best done sooner rather than later, but results can still be achieved on old surgical or injury sites.

The lists above are not exhaustive, but show a few examples of ailments we commonly treat.

About Diagnoses

Note that we cannot diagnose health conditions, but work with the diagnoses reported to us to treat conditions or symptoms. Sometimes individuals have an amalgamation of symptoms with no formal diagnosis yet. In these cases, we can work on managing your symptoms, and point you in the direction of providers who can evaluate and diagnose you if you'd like. Our observations from each session as well as the experiences you report to us are kept in medical documents that you can also show to other providers if you so choose. We are used to working with other healthcare professionals and coordinating our therapies to maximize healing potential for our clients.

Neuromuscular technique is an umbrella term for a wide variety of techniques (like Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation [PNF], trigger point therapy, positional release, reciprocal inhibition, and more).

The practitioner uses knowledge about neurological connections between different muscle groups and muscle behaviors to cause a long-lasting release at the source. It's effective in treating chronic pain and dysfunctions, and aiding with many neurological, postural, otherwise structural ailments.

Massage therapists who perform neuromuscular techniques tend to have a greater understanding of the body's more complex responses to pain, and how to work with different responses of sensory & motor nerves-especially those responsible for interpreting pain signals. You may be asked to do a few simple movements or questions about what makes the pain better or worse to help the therapist determine the best course of action and interpret the information your body is giving.

A trigger point is a highly tender point on the body that often refers or radiates pain elsewhere. Trigger point neuromuscular therapy uses sustained pressure near trigger points by a therapist skilled at matching just the right resistance of the muscle- without too much or too little force.

The neurological connection between some muscle groups can aid a therapist in mapping out the cause of your ailment (like the suboccipitals behind the head and the muscles that move the eyes. Yep, they're neurologically connected! That headache that starts at the base of your skull might be pointing towards eye strain.)

Reciprocal inhibition uses the idea that for one muscle group to contract, the other must relax. Sometimes a therapist using neuromuscular therapies may ask you to move a muscle to complete a technique- but the movements are not strenuous and the techniques should not be painful.

There are various other forms of neuromuscular therapies, all of which are very targeted techniques. Describe your pain or discomfort in detail to your therapist, and they will determine which neuromuscular techniques are right for you.

Relieves tension in the deeper tissue layers. It uses oil for similar gliding strokes to Swedish massage with more pressure. Highly effective for releasing chronic stress areas from repetitive motions and past lingering injuries, it reduces scar tissue adhesions and improves range of motion. Due to the nature of the deep tissue work, open communication during the session is crucial to manage comfort levels. Mild soreness sometimes occurs after the treatment, and staying hydrated afterward is important. Country/Culture of origin: Ancient Egypt, Canada* See an example here.

Relaxing and therapeutic massage, using oil for an array of smooth gliding strokes to improve circulation. This is the most common spa massage. Strokes on the limbs go towards the trunk to improve blood and lymph flow. Benefits include relief from mild aches and pains, decreased stress levels in the body, enhanced mental clarity, and greater flexibility. Country/Culture of origin: Sweden​ See an example here.

After a surgery or injury, scar tissue can build up in the body. Even very routine and common procedures like C-sections and overuse injuries like tennis elbow can produce scar tissue.

The scar tissue in itself is not a problem, as it's the body's natural response to healing itself. But when scar tissue begins sticking to other nearby connective tissue, bones, organ tissue, etc, it can wreak havoc with pain, discomfort, nerve entrapment, postural misalignments, and other symptoms like breathing or digestive problems (depending on the location of the scar tissue).

Scar tissue release techniques can be used for small and superficial scars near the top of the skin, as well as bone deep or visceral scars within the body.

The goal is never to get rid of the scar or scar tissue completely- which is not realistic. We can, however, soften the scar tissue and oftentimes release it from pathological connections it is making with other nearby tissues to restore mobility and function, and eliminate pain.

Usually scar tissue releases provide very long lasting, effective results in restoring functionality to the affected area.

The lymphatic system is a series of vessels and nodes that transport fluid (lymph) associated with immune function and fluid balance in the body. Lymphatic drainage massage aims to move lymph through the body past areas of swelling, or assist in lymphatic circulation. It is ideal after injuries or surgeries to reduce swelling, and can help with situations like Meniere's Disease, allergies, edema, and other illnesses impacted by poor lymph circulation. The techniques are very gentle, and usually involve light stretching of the skin. They must be done in specific orders that follow the location of lymph nodes and vessels. Country/Culture of origin: Denmark There are multiple techniques used to achieve drainage. See a demonstration and explanation of a few here.​

A gentle massage using gliding strokes and oil to safely and comfortably relax an expecting parent. The body goes through a lot of changes and stress during pregnancy! Relieving that stress allows time for parent and baby to bond, and reduces cortisol and other stress related hormones in the body that can affect mood, physical health, and fetal health. Country/Culture of Origin: India Prenatal massage is commonly done in a side-lying position. See an example of side-lying massage here.

General term for the technique of placing downward pressure with thumbs, hands, or elbows. A compression routine also uses kneading, and is a convenient and versatile option for many people. It can be done fully clothed on a chair, mat, or table, and is generally safe even in the presence of some circulatory problems. Pressure is easily adjusted to meet your comfort level.

See an example here.

Very gentle pressure and traction along the fascia and bones of the head, sacrum, and spine influences the movement of cerebrospinal fluid, dural membrane, and connective tissue between cranial and spinal joints. There is a lot of misconception around this therapy. No massage is a cure-all. However, this modality is effective and well suited for trauma recovery, calming the nervous system, reducing connective tissue stress around the head and spine, reducing pain, reducing sinus congestion, reducing neurological symptoms with structural causes, and more. Country/Culture of origin: United States*

These techniques as well as a form of psychosomatic bodywork called SomatoEmotional Release were described and taught by Dr. Upledger, the founder of the Upledger Institute. He was an osteopathic medical doctor that went on to practice acupuncture and other multidisciplinary forms of medicine. He discovered attributes of the central nervous system that were not previously described in medical texts during a neurosurgery for a calcified adhesion restricting a patient's spinal cord. After observing a gliding movement of the cerebrospinal fluid within the spinal canal, and ways in which connective tissue restrictions of this impact the dural membrane and overall neurology and (therefore other mental and physical symptoms) of many of his patients, he named the system the craniosacral system. His manual therapy techniques to work with this were then called craniosacral therapy.

Many British medical texts describe the sutures of the skull (joints between skull bones) as fully fused after puberty. Dr. Upledger noted that in Italian anatomical texts, as well as studies of anatomy in other parts of the world, there is a very small amount of movement within these joints even after adulthood. This minute movement is thought to serve the same purpose as the engineering of a bridge, which needs some sway in order to avoid being so rigid that it cannot withstand force and crumbles. He therefore uses the bones as handles to gain small, sustained traction that releases in connective tissues around the central nervous system.

See an example here.

Compression of zones on the hands and feet that correlate with other organs and parts of the body. It is used for systemic benefits of any organ system. While not a cure, it can assist in the treatment of many health conditions and is safe for most people. Country/Culture of origin: Ancient China and Egypt

See an explanation here, and a demonstration here.

Following meridians used in traditional Chinese medicine, the shiatsu modality was adapted by Japanese culture, and Thai massage by Thai culture. Pressure and compression are applied with the practitioner's fingers, thumbs, palms, hands, and feet, as well as assisted stretching. Both of these modalities use variations of the aforementioned techniques. These techniques are often done on a floor mat but can be adapted to table work. Meridians can be used to assist healing in various health conditions and impact other parts of the body via nerve and connective tissue pathways. These modalities are effective at treating a range of conditions, pain symptoms, increasing range of motion, emotional wellbeing, and much more. Country/Culture of origin for Shiatsu: Japan Country/Culture of origin for Thai Massage: Thailand

See examples of shiatsu here and here. Note that the videos are narrated in Japanese. Auto-generated captions are available with the option to translate to English on the second video, but some terms may not translate directly.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupressure applies varying types of pressure to specific points along meridian pathways. Meridians carry qi, or life energy. Blockages throughout these pathways can cause ailments. TCM has been practiced for centuries to heal a wide range of conditions. Though many Western cultures underestimate the value of acupressure, practitioners of both medical systems have proven that there are neurological and anatomically significant structures at acupoints. It is used in controlled research studies throughout the world, and is easy to implement in more simplified forms. TCM uses pulse points, elements, seasons, colors, times, foods, senses, facial structures, and the appearance of the tongue to diagnose and assess conditions. While we are currently unable to perform full assessments from this medical system, we do implement the use of points, elements, and techniques when medically applicable in a custom treatment session. We also have a referral network of practitioners who can continue your care with further in-depth use of this medical system via assessments, herbs, acupuncture, Tui Na massage, and more. Country/culture of origin: China See an example here. ​​​​